SERENADE

Is Heitor Villa-Lobos the last great 20th century composer to be rediscovered? Because he wrote so much, it's easier to sidestep rather than face his overwhelming catalog point by point. The folks at Naxos, though, are tackling his Amazonian output, starting with the piano music. Brazilian pianist Sonia Rubinsky controls the undulating chordal syncopations in the wonderful Book One of A Prole do Bebê with a left hand propelled by an imaginary, rock-steady rhythm section, and never lets the pungent dissonances overshadow the melodies. Rarely heard, the delightful Cirandas are virtually the Brazilian equivalant of Bartok's folk-inspired character pieces. The improvisatory Hommage à Chopin evokes the Polish master's decorative syntax, filtered through Villa-Lobos' more lush keyboard deployment. Rubinsky is both on top and inside of the Brazilian composer's idiom, and her vivid playing is beautifully reproduced. As they say in Portuguese: "um CD sensacional."

– Jed Distler

Bernstein Favorites: Twentieth Century

The music which will be known to most is that by Villa-Lobos which here includes the Preludes and Choro No. 1. However the disc has much more to offer and much of it rarely played, with performances as good as these this situation should quickly change. Music by Savio, Bonf, Almeida, Machada, Baden Powell and Jobim is all beautifully played. Garcia has matured into a guitarist of stature and this is perhaps his best recording to date. - Classical Guitar - October 1990

The Five Preludes and the first Choro by Villa-Lobos are accompanied on this CD by a considerable number of Brazilian pieces of the more popular kind. That is not meant disparagingly: this is popular in the best sense, music easily accessible to untrained ears, yet good enough to be enjoyed by the most fastidious. Bonfá, Jobim, Almeida, Pernambuco, Baden-Powell and Machado fall into this category. They are well represented here. So is Isaias Savio, with a delightful Sonha laia, Seroros and the ever-popular Batucada... . The Preludes are given a good performance by Gerald Garcia. He plays all the repeats in No. 3, and manages to convince you that the exercise isn't as boring as it looks on paper. This in itself is a rare achievement. But Garcia has always been a characterful guitarist: his musical intelligence and perception are to be treasured in an age where bland fluency seems to carry off the major prizes in international competitions... . Garcia's own arrangements of three Brazilian children's songs are charming, and well worth a place... . A disc of unusual interest. - Guitar International - August 1990

"Garcia's performances are stylish and intense" - Fanfare

"all beautifully played. Garcia has matured into a guitarist of stature" - Guitar International

"Garcia has always been a characterful guitarist; his musical intelligence and perception are to be treasured... a disc of unusual interest" - Classical Guitar (UK)